Plutarch, on the Dæmon of Socrates (s. 11.), states the opinion which some persons had formed, that Socrates' dæmon was nothing else than the sneezing either of himself or others. Thus, if any one sneezed at his right hand, either before or behind him, he pursued any step he had begun; but sneezing at his left hand caused him to desist from his formed purpose. He adds something as to different kinds of sneezing. To sneeze twice was usual in Aristotle's time; but once, or more than twice, was uncommon (Prob. xxxiii. 3.).
Petronius (Satyr. c. 98.) notices the "blessing" in the following passage:
"Giton collectione spiritus plenus, ter continuo ita sternutavit, ut grabatum concuteret. Ad quem motum Eumolpus conversus, salvere Gitona jubet."
T. J. Buckton.
Birmingham.
Footnote 5:[(return)]
The practice of snuff-taking has made the sneezing at anything a mark of contempt, in these degenerate days.
ABUSES OF HACKNEY COACHES.
[The following proclamation on this subject is of interest at the present moment.]